I sighed. “Look, let’s just…let’s make the best of this shit. I know it’s a fucked up situation, but you ain’t gotta keep reminding me.”
She made her way over to her side of the bed and sat. “I’m a prisoner, no matter which way you look at it. I don’t think it’s fair to expect me to act like I’m happy about being held hostage.”
So fucking dramatic.
She smelled good as fuck, though.
“Okay, well, what would make you feel like you free and not ahostage?” I emphasized it so she’d know how ridiculous it sounded. “Keep in mind that this shit gotta look believable to everybody else.”
“I don’t know. Nothing, I guess. I can’t go home, so…” she trailed off.
“What’s at home?”
“My sister. My nephew. My bed. My snacks and candles and books.” Her eyes bounced around my room. “This is a really nice room, but I don’t feel at home here.”
Yeah, my room was nice. Big, high ceiling, a gang of windows. My mama hadn’t changed it since I was here last, but my taste had always been good.
But I guess none of that mattered to Malika. And I couldn’t really blame her.
“Alright, here’s what we’ll do,” I said. “Tomorrow, we’ll go to your place so you can visit with your people. You can grab some of your shit while you’re there.”
I expected her to be happy about that, but instead, she just looked away and said, “That’s okay.”
I had a feeling she didn’t want me anywhere near her family. I understoodthat, too.
“Then let me take you shopping. Buy some shit you like. Shit that’ll make you more comfortable. Then we’ll get lunch or something. That’ll meet my date quota for the week.”
She rolled her eyes, but it was playful. “Fine.”
With that taken care of, I finished up the business I was handling when she came home. After setting my alarm, I tried and failed to fall asleep, once again cursing my appetite for sex. Just one orgasm would have knocked me out, but it wasn’t happening.
I was laying next to my wife and couldn’t even touch her.
“My bad for not noticing you back in the day,” I said in the darkness. “I don’t know why I didn’t.”
The only sound that followed my comment was her soft, slow breathing.